Play-based curriculum

Elements Early Learning and Childcare is a strong advocate for play-based curriculum. We believe that our programs foster children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for discovery and learning, and cultivate learning-to-learn habits. Early childhood is not a time to emphasize learning achievement and competitiveness among children; it is a time to foster positive values about learning and to build a strong developmental foundation for a healthy, happy life.

Our educators plan and program using an emergent curriculum – meaning that the learning and planning comes from the child’s own interests, taking the ideas and thoughts that bud from a child’s own questions and play investigations. In emergent curriculum, both adults and children have initiative and make decisions. This power to impact curriculum decisions and directions means that sometimes curriculum is negotiated between what interests children and what adults know is necessary for a child’s education and development.

Experiences and activities are open-ended – meaning that children have the opportunity to freely express ideas, motives and questions. There is no right or wrong answer, no pre-determined outcome.

“What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all its children."